Brent to be involved in junior coaching

Former Zimbabwe medium-pacer Gary Brent, who retired from international cricket in 2008, has continued his involvement with cricket in Zimbabwe as a coach.

Brent, 34, has been part of a coaching clinic for junior cricketers from high density suburbs, as well as working with the national Under-13 and Under-19 teams, and has indicated his desire to give something back to the sport by fostering young talent.

"As I was getting towards the end of my career my body was getting sore and the last straw was when I broke my finger in a domestic game," he told NewsDay.

"I decided that it was about time I did something else and it was an easy decision to start coaching. It's something that I have a passion for and I want to pass on the knowledge that I have acquired to the upcoming youngsters and see cricket develop in this country."

Brent, who played 70 one-day internationals, four Tests and three Twenty20s for Zimbabwe, has been involved in coaching at various levels for some time and has also worked with high school first teams, including Prince Edward High in Harare.

He holds a Level Three coaching certificate, which he acquired in England, and is also a Level Two certified fitness instructor. An all-round sportsman, Brent also has Level One coaching certificates for hockey and rugby.

His current assignment is a coaching clinic for young players from high density suburbs, including cricketers from Chipembere Primary School in Highfield, which produced Elton Chigumbura and Tatenda Taibu.

The clinic is being held at the Interfin High Performance Centre, formerly the Country Club, in Harare and will take place over a period of 100 days every year. David Mutendera, the tall seamer who played the last of 10 matches for the national side in June 2001, is also involved as a coach at the clinic.